Engine.



P. A. SHARPNEGK.

ENGINE.

APPLIOATION rILnn JUNE 15, 1907.

Patented July 19,1910.

THE mmms F co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

rrro.

FRANK A. SHARPNECK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF NINE'IY ONE-HUN-'DREDTI-IS TO REINI-IOLD REIGI-IARDT AND LEO GALLILANI), OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Application filed June 15, 1907. Serial No. 379,286.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. SHARP- NECK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in engines, and has for one of itsobjects to provide a simple, durable, high speed steam engine of thereciprocating piston, rotating cylinder type.

Another object of my invention is to provide a compound engine of thecharacter described.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved valve structurefor engines of the character described.

Other and further objects of my invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following description,

taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a vertical section: Fig. 2 is a small view of the cylinderstructure detached. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Throughout the several figures like numerals of reference refer alwaysto like parts.

In the drawing, 10 and 11 indicate shaft supporting standards ofdifferent heights, in which is fixed against rotation, and adequatelysupported, an angular shaft 12, bent in a vertical plane. Specificallysuch a shaft comprises a horizontal. portion 12 and a downwardlyinclined portion 12, such sections joining integrally with a centralbend portion 12, which is preferably somewhat enlarged and presents endshoulders at right ai'igles to the respective sections of shaft.

Mounted upon the inclined portion 12" of the shaft is a rotatable sleeve14L, having connected therewith, preferably integrally, a disk 15, saiddisk being provided with recesses 16 forming sockets for ball and socketjoints.

17 indicates an apertured ring overlying and secured to the recessedbase of the disk 15, the apertures in. such ring coacting with therecesses in the disk to retain the ball-parts of the joints therein. Thesleeve structure 1 1 at one end abuts against the shoulder of the bendenlargement 12, and

at its other end bears against a collar 13 screwed upon the upperportion of the shaft 12 and adjusted to take up wear at the end of thesleeve.

20 indicates a cylinder structure as a whole mounted on and carried by asleeve 21, mounted for rotation upon the horizontal shaft portion 12,between the shoulder formed by the enlarged bend portion 12 and a collar19 threaded on to said shaft section. The cylinder structure is providedwith a plurality of symmetrically disposed cylinders, preferably four innumber, whereof two cylinders on opposite sides of the shaft axis,numbered 22 and 22 are of relatively small diameter, and the two opposedcylinders 23 and 23, arranged in quartering relation to cylinders 22 and22' of relatively large diameter. The smaller cylinders I will call highpressure cylinders, and the larger cylinders I will designate lowpressure cylinders. Within each cylinder is mounted a properlyproportioned iston 25 connected by a sultable piston roc, generallyindicated at 26, with the disk 15. erably each piston rod is made in twosections 26 and 26", each provided at its outer extremity with asuitable head 27 for engagement in the socket of the coacting piston ordisk part to form a ball and socket joint. The socket structures of thedisk 15, is heretofore described, and similar sockets 28 are providedcentrally of the respective pistons. The two piston rod sections 26 and26 are oppositely threaded at their inner ends, and are joined by asuitable coupling 29.

The high pressure cylinders 22, 22 are provided with ports 30 and 30respectively opening through their heads, such ports being arranged atlike radial distance from the axis of rotation of the cylinderstructure. The low pressure cylinders 23, 23 are provided with generallysimilar ports 31, 31 arranged at a greater radial distance from the axisof rotation.

32 indicates a disk or head, threaded upon sleeve 21 for rotationtherewith, and positioned a suitable distance from the head of thecylinder structure, and held against movement by lock nut 33. Betweenthe cylinder head and the disk 32 is arranged a valve structure,generally indicated as 34, and comprising a ring making tight contact onopposite sides with the cylinder head and Prefthe disk 32, so that itsinterior opening constitutes a steam chest 35. An annular steam channel36 is provided in the face of the valve which coacts with the head ofthe cylinder structure 20, such steam channel 36 being entirely out ofcommunication with the steam space 35. The inner and outer rims of thering are provided with packing rings 37 which make tight contact withthe cylinder head.

The valve structure 34 is mounted for adjustment transversely of theaxis to positions varying in degree of eccentricity with reference tothe axis of rotation of the cylinder structure, and I prefer that theline of transverse adjustment be at substantially 45 to the vertical. Tothis end I provide upon the valve structure 34 a guiding stem 39 leadingthrough a suitable guide 40 provided in an extension of the frame member10 and opposite the said stem 39 provides a steam supply pipe 41 intelescopic association with a stationary pipe section 42, which acts asa guide therefor and serves to supply steam thereto. The steam pipe 41extends radially into the valve structure and opens into the steamchamber 35 therein. Adjustment of the valve may be effected by a handlever 43 having a latch M coacting with the segment 45, said lever beingprovided with a link 46 at its free end connected to the movable steampipe 41.

In the operation of my improved engine the relatively stationary valve36 is adjusted to such a degree of eccentricity that in the rotation ofthe cylinder structure 20 the high pressure ports 30 and 30 vary betweenpositions in register with the steam chamber 35 and the annular steamchannel 36, while the ports 31 and 31 of the low pressure cylinder varybetween a position in register with the steam channel 36 and a positionentirely without the valve structure 34. Accordingly, as shown in Fig.1, assuming the cylinder structures 20 and the disk 13 to be in rotationin a clock-wise direction, as viewed from the left end of the machine,and as indicated in Fig. 3, port 30 of the high pressure cylinder 22begins to receive high pressure steam in the steam space 35 just beforeit passes its lowermost position or dead center, and takes steam throughnearly half a revolution until cut off by the inside rim of the valve,shortly after which, it begins to open to the channel to exhaust steamthereto during the instroke of its piston. The port 30 acts in likemanner, alternately with port 30, so that it will be apparent that eachhigh pressure cylinder receives steam from the inner chamber 35 andexhausts the same into the channel 36.

The port of each low pressure cylinder, as it approaches lowermostposition opens to the channel 36 and takes steam therefrom until itapproaches its uppermost position when the port passes under the outerrim of the valve and then opens the exhaust in air. Thus the same steamis used successively in a high pressure and a low pressure cylinder, asin other types of compound engine.

Now it will be apparent that as steam is received in each cylinder asthe cylinder is at approximately lowest position when the piston is atthe end of its instroke, such in troduction of steam will force thepiston outward, and consequently rotate the cylinder structure and withit the pistons and head 15, the successive actions of the alternate highpressure and low pressure cylinders produce constant high speed rotationof such structures.

Power may be taken from any suitable rotary part as through a gear 50 onsleeve 21.

While I have herein described in some detail an embodiment of myinvention which I believe to be new and advantageous, it will beunderstood that I do not intend to limit my invention in its broaderaspects to the specific construction shown and described, asconsiderable departure may be made from the specific constructionwithout variation from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, of the United States, is:

1. In an engine, the combination with a stationary shaft, a sleeve, 21,rotatably mounted thereon, and a cylinder structure rotatable with thesleeve, having a high pressure cylinder and a low pressure cylinder andprovided with ports to each of said cylinders through the heads thereof,the ports for said high and low pressure cylinders being arranged atrespectively inner and outer radial distances from the axis of rotationof the cylinder structure; of a stationary valve structure comprising aring, 34, provided on one of its lateral surfaces with a continuouschannel concentric with the ring, the interior of said ring beingarranged by the rotation of the cylinder structure to communicate withthe port to the high pressure cylinder, the channel arranged tocommunicate simultaneously with the ports to both the high and lowpressure cylinders, and the rim of the ring arranged to open the port tothe low pressure cylinder for exhaust outside of the ring; means foradjustably mounting said ring eccentrically to the axis of rotation ofthe sleeve and cylinder structure; a disk, 32, on the sleeve forrotation therewith in contact with the valve-ring; and a nut, 33,maintaining said disk in tight contact with the valve-ring.

2. In an engine, the combination with a stationary shaft, a sleeve, 21,rotatably mounted thereon, and a cylinder structure rotatable with thesleeve, having a high pressure cylinder and a low pressure cylinder andprovided with ports to each of said cylinders through the heads thereof,the ports for said high and low pressure cylinders being arranged atrespectively inner and outer radial distances from the axis of rotationof the cylinder structure; of a stationary valve structure comprising aring, 34, provided on one of its lateral surfaces with a continuouschannel concentric with the ring, the interior of said ring beingarranged by the rotation of the cylinder structure to communicate withthe port to the high pressure cylinder, the channel arranged tocommunicate simultaneously with the ports to both the high and lowpressure cylinders, and the rim of the ring arranged to open the port tothe low pressure cylinder for exhaust outside of the ring; means foradjustably mounting said ring eccentrically to the axis of rotation ofthe sleeve and cylinder structure, a disk, 32, on the sleeve forrotation therewith in contact with the valvering; a nut, 33, maintainingsaid disk in tight contact with the valve-ring; a telescoping pipeconnection for steam supply to the interior of said ring; and aconnection for taking up power from rotation of the sleeve,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK A. SHARPNECK. In the presence of Gno. T. MAY, Jr, MARY F. ALLEN.

It is hereby certified that the name of the last-mentioned assignee inLetters Patent No. 96%,702, granted July 19, 1910, upon the applicationof Frank A. Sharpneck, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvement inEngines, was erroneously written and printed Leo Galliland, Whereas saidname should have been Written and printed Lee 0. Ge'llz'lcmd; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of August, A. D., 191 O.

F. A. TENNANT,

Acting Cormnz'ssz'onm" of Patents,

[SEAL]

